PDP clarifies official communication line, shuts down social media handles temporarily
HENCEFORTH, “only statements, utterances and positions of the national chairman and national publicity secretary, or any other national officer authorised by the National Working Committee shall be regarded and reported as the official position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party has said.
In a statement yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, explained that the move, which was in line with the relevant provisions of the PDP Constitution, followed the conclusion of the 2015 election campaigns, during which it observed that personal positions and opinions of members were generally reported by the media as official.
Now that the campaigns are over, it said, the general public, especially the media, is hereby clarified on this. The statement also noted that some of the party’s new media handles, the Facebook and twitter accounts, have been hacked, “resulting in series of unauthorised releases, with the latest being Sunday’s post quoting our party as accepting responsibility for failure in the last 16 years.”
According to the PDP, such statement contradicts its claim to a “robust record of achievements in all sectors of our national life.”
However, it stated: “For purposes of clarity, this directive does not in anyway affect the inalienable constitutionally guaranteed rights of our members as free citizens to hold and air opinions, but such personal opinions must not in any way be rendered or reported as the official position of the PDP.
“Consequently, media houses, particularly the electronic media, and the civil society should note that only authorised persons should be invited to speak or stand in for the PDP for interviews, debates, talk shows or any other media appearance whatsoever.
“Furthermore, to halt the embarrassing trend in our social media handles, the party has decided to decommission our official twitter and Facebook accounts for now to pave way for proper overhauling of the system.”
Metuh explained that these efforts are pursuant to rebuilding and repositioning the party, instilling discipline in its fold, checking unnecessary divergences and putting the PDP on a strong footing for future elections.
Moreover, the national leadership charged all members with genuine grievances to channel them through the appropriate party organs for redress, using the internal conflict resolution mechanisms.
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